Rack for automobile-tires



.L A. `CHEAPEl RACK FOR AUTOMOBILE TIRES. APPLlcATloN FILED APR. 28,'1920.

0. 2. 9| 1T. E ,E RWM t8 mm dw e2 m a D1 J. A. CHEAPE.

RACK `FOR AUTOMOBILE TIRES;

APPLICATION FILED APR.28. 1.920.

Fammi oet. 5,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORN E Y.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ALBERT CHEAPE, OF CRARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA.

RACK FOR AUTOMOBILE-TIRES.

Application led April 28, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN ALBERT CHEAPE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Charlottesville, in the county ot Albemarle and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Racks for Automobile-Tires, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in racks for automobile tires.

Racks of this general character when filled to capacity frequently hold several thousand dollars worth of tires, and have no means ot preventing the theft or unauthorized appropriation of the goods, which may easily amount to a considerable loss to the dealer or agent.

rl`he object ot this invention is to provide means :tor doing this, and for simultaneously locking the entire complement of the rack, or, when desired, for releasing the same. My invention consists in a framework tor the support of the tires vertically, and an extensible lock adapted to be projected through the several tires and locke-d in this position, whereby the unauthorized removal orp a single tire is absolutely precluded, the entire locking mechanism being within the control of a responsible person with a key or other means ot securing the lock mechanism.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a rack with a little less than one-halt thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end View;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in vertical transverse section;

Fig. l is a plan view of a fragment taken at the center ot the rack;

Fig. 5 is a similar view ot the same in side elevation.

A, represents the rack conveniently made ot tubing and suitable couplings of the required dimensions, the same being of less width than the diameter oi' the tires to be supported thereon, since the tires l (whether large or small) rest transversely within the Conhnes ot the spaces bounded by the horizontal tubes 2 or" the rack, as shown in Figs. l and 2. These tubes 2 constitute the sole bottom support for the tires, while the vertical tubes S-whether at the end or center-afford lateral support at the ends and hold the tires upright, one leaning upon another as illustrated in Fig. l. The cen- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Serial No. 377,202.

tral uprights 3 are adapted to be connected at their bottoms by a horizontal member 3, which in turn may be secured to the licor.

My invention contemplates any extensible means capable of being projected through the centers of these tires as they rest in different tiers, three horizontal tiers in number being shown, extending in pairs from the center to the end of the rack, making six spaces in all in the particular rack illustrated. As illustrative ofone practical means ot simultaneously locking the entire complement oi' tires, l have adopted the lazy tongs il. rlhese are projected simultaneously from the center in opposite directions through the centers of the tires, one member of their inner ends being pivoted to the central upright 5 at a iixed point, and the corresponding ends to a slide 6.

These slides are connected in any convenient manner as by rods 7, so that they are moved simultaneously, and as a means for operating the slides 6 and consequently the lazy-tongs Ll, the hand-lever 8 is provided. rhis is pivoted at 9 to the central upright, and preferably consists of parallel members connected at their outer ends with a handle 10, into which is built a lock ll, which is arranged to automatically lock to one of the vertical uprights 3, serving as a convenient means for effecting a ready locking of the parts in the projected position. When projected, the outer ends 13 ot the toggle-joint levers straddle the diagonally crossed bracing-tubes 14: and l5, which arrangement serves to guide the outer end of the togglelevers toward the center ot the trame, where their outer ends meet, as disclosed in Fig. l, thus forming a support for the toggle levers at their outer ends, and prevent their being swung aside from their predetermined positions, locking the tires in the rack.

ln this simple manner, the entire rack full of tires is simultaneously locked from a common central point by the actuation of a handlever common to all, which when swung to its normal position latches itself and cannot be released until by the use of a key, as with any other lock.

I claim:

l. A tire rack including a trame for the support of the tires, and collapsible means capable ot being projected through the tires to prevent their surreptitious removal from the trarne.

2. A tire rack including a frame for the support of tires, and collapsible means cav Y ble device in opposite directions to simultaneously pass through the tires, for locking the-m in ythe rack. Y

4. A ti-re rack including a frame in Which tires are supported on edge, an eXtensible device in position to be projected through the tires, a vlever for actuating the extensible Viaose means, and means for securing the extensible 'i5 Ysite vdirettioiis through the tires Vand vregister with the outer end members of the frame, an actuating' lever common to the several extensible devices, and means for locking the lever vin one position for securing the eXten- 25 sible ydevices in their locked position.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN ALBERT CHEPE. 

